Katie Rose (35 page)

“What? Do you mean—”

Allison sighed. “I know how it appears, but I’ve never loved anyone since Miguel. I was willing to marry Gabriel because that’s what everyone wanted, but it wasn’t love.”

Charles breathed a sigh of relief. “Then even more so, you must withdraw the complaint. You have to let the girls go free.”

“I think not,” Allison said indignantly. When Charles looked at her in confusion, she struggled to explain. “Why should I? So Jennifer and Gabriel can run off and marry, and be happy? What about me, what they did to me? They made a fool out of me, and they will pay …”

To his amazement, his sister began to weep. Charles
felt a momentary helplessness. He and Allison had never been close, and he’d never seen her cry. Now he acted on instinct and stood beside her awkwardly, patting her back as she sobbed. When the tears subsided, he tilted her face up to his.

“Allison, I know you’re angry, but this course of action will only hurt you. Think of yourself now. You can’t win here. The Appletons have the suffragettes on their side, the Vanderbilts, even the McBrides. If you become tainted by this scandal, you will never find a husband. Your own life will be over.”

Allison seemed to hear him for the first time. “Is that what you truly think will happen?”

Charles nodded. “Without a doubt. When word of the engagement leaks out, your motives will be ridiculously apparent. Even our parents will be publicly embarrassed. No man will want to be involved with you, let alone make you his wife. Your name will forever be associated with scandal. Allison, you can’t do this. Please, for your own sake, withdraw the complaint.”

Mortified, his sister rose to her feet. “Charles, I think you are right. My God, if the Billings got hold of this—”

“We will all help you. Everyone will make it seem that Gabriel asked you to wed, and you refused him. Only then did he, out of duty, turn to Jennifer. You can go to Europe for the summer, let the talk die down. By the time you come back, it will be over. If you help the girls now, they will help you save face, I know it. Please, Allison.”

“Yes,” she whispered, putting her head in her hands. Than she looked up at him, and her expression was filled with a dawning horror and understanding. “Why didn’t I see this? Charles, you are right. Yes, I will withdraw! Tell me what I need to do.”

Immense relief flooded through him. Charles took his sister into his arms. “You leave everything to me. I’ll make it all as painless as possible, I promise.”

•   •   •

Jennifer awoke in the cell, every inch of her body aching. She and her sisters had refused to don prison garb to sleep, and her stays had cut unmercifully into her flesh during the night. Groaning, she sat upright, rubbing her eyes as the guard approached.

“I’ve got a gentleman here to see you, Miss Appleton.” The older man slipped the keys into the door, trying to hush every possible sound so that Winifred and Penelope wouldn’t awaken. “He says it’s important.”

Jennifer nodded, then rose painfully to her feet. She slipped into her boots, and smoothed back her hair, grateful that she hadn’t let Penelope talk her into one of those false hairpieces that were so popular now. Her own hair was in disarray, and she could just picture a roll of curls dangling down her back by a thread.

The guard let her into the visitors’ room, and all thoughts of physical discomfort left when she saw the man sitting there. “Gabriel!” she squealed, and rushed into his arms. “What are you doing here so early?”

She pressed up against him, feeling the strength of his body, the warmth of his closeness. He smelled good, like shaving lotion and soap, and his arms held her tightly, making her feel safe. She never felt so much at home as when she was in this man’s arms, and she reveled in that knowledge.

Gabriel chuckled, then gradually stepped back and held her at arm’s length. His normally serious face looked concerned, and his gaze raked her from her head to her feet.

“Are you all right, sweet Jenny? Have they been treating you all right? Have you eaten—”

“Yes, I’m fine.” Jennifer laughed. “If I had any more to eat, I’d be ten pounds overweight. We’ve gotten so many baskets of food and fruit that we’re swimming in it. Penelope donated some of the baskets to the poor yesterday,
there were that many. Don’t worry, we’re fine.” She blushed a little when she saw his fine clothes, and glanced ruefully down at her own ruined costume. “Although I don’t look as pretty and fresh as you do. Please forgive my dress. Prison is lacking in some respects.”

“Jenny, I’m not worried about your dress.” For the first time since she could remember, Gabriel looked awkward and ill at ease. His starched collar seemed to annoy him, for he pulled at it repeatedly, even though he was very used to formal clothes, and his suit seemed to fit him stiffly. “Please, sit down.”

Growing concerned, Jennifer obeyed him and sank down onto the seat. She folded her hands and waited patiently as he paced the cell, seeming more determined to wear a hole in the floor than to tell her what was on his mind. Finally, he turned to her quickly, and she saw a multitude of emotions on his face: determination, relief, happiness, and confusion.

“Jenny, my sweet Jenny. I’ve come to several startling conclusions in the past few days. Ever since I met you, I’ve been unable to get you out of my mind. You’ve haunted me more than any fictitious ghost you’ve ever conjured. You’ve teased me, tortured me, laughed at me, and made love to me with a passion that left me dazed. I meant what I said yesterday—I am terribly, passionately in love with you.”

Jennifer’s emotions soared and she leaned closer to him, her hands braced on the seat. But her hopes were dashed with his next words.

“I’ve tried hard not to love you—the good Lord knows you are not the perfect woman for me. You are a spiritualist, for God’s sake, and a charlatan at that. You know how I feel about all this—I’ve certainly expressed it often enough. You and your sisters have flouted society, made spectacles of yourselves at the stock market, and are rumored to be everything from modern-day witches to street tarts.”

Gabriel stopped his pacing and stared at her, as if trying to make sense of all this himself. When Jennifer didn’t offer assistance, he continued raggedly.

“I tried to avoid you and forget you, but to no avail. You were always there, whether physically or in my mind. Now you and your sisters are in dire danger of becoming outcasts. I am partially responsible for that, and I admit my role in all that has passed. Even if you and the girls are released, people will talk, and Penelope’s chances of making a good match are null. Winifred’s ambitions will be in jeopardy, and as for you—”

Jennifer looked at him expectantly.

“You know no gentleman will ask you to wed. So, after giving the matter much thought, I plan to follow through on my offer. You must know that the spiritualism has to stop, that you cannot go back to your previous life. So there is but one thing to do.” He dropped to his knee and dug into his pocket. Jennifer stared in disbelief as he withdrew a small velvet box and popped the lid. Inside, a beautiful sapphire gleamed. “Jennifer Appleton,” Gabriel asked, “will you be my wife?”

Gabriel waited in breathless anticipation as Jennifer stared at the ring, although he was certain what her response would be. She really hadn’t any other choice. Everything he’d said was true, and he was being as honest as possible. Only marriage could avert certain disaster, for herself as well as her family. Although he wished his proposal could be made under other circumstances, Gabriel knew he had to lay the groundwork as accurately as possible. Jennifer had to give up her role as voodoo priestess, and live a normal, wedded life.

She smiled at him, and only then did he notice the sadness in her eyes. “It is beautiful,” she breathed, reverently touching the box. Regretfully, she closed the lid and handed it back to him. “I’m sorry, Gabriel, but I cannot accept. Thank you for your offer.”

Gabriel stared at her in astonishment. “Why? What do you mean you can’t? I don’t understand—”

Jennifer laid her hand on his shoulder, her touch feather-light and comforting. “Gabriel, I appreciate what you’re trying to do. You are and always have been a gentleman. But a marriage can’t be built on obligation and duty. You don’t really love me, and can’t accept me, which are
one and the same thing. I know the stain that will be on my name, and I know what a struggle it will be to get out from under this mess, but I can’t let you marry me to avoid scandal. I am honored, but I truly cannot accept under the circumstances.”

Gabriel stared at the closed box in his hand in confusion. “But you must! It is the only thing to do now …”

“Gabriel, tell me honestly. Have you ever come to terms with who and what I am? You don’t have to answer, I see it in your face. You would be embarrassed every time someone brought up my past, or when someone sought my counsel. Especially now, after what happened with Mrs. Hawthorne. Don’t you see? I really was able to help her! I can’t ignore that, or pretend to be something other than what I am. Don’t worry about us—the Appletons have always pulled through, and somehow we will again. But I want you to know I am beholden to you for what you’ve done, and what you’ve offered to do.”

Before he could reply, the door burst open. Gabriel got quickly to his feet, brushing at his trousers, while Charles wrapped his arms around him in joy. Astonished, Gabriel couldn’t speak for a moment, enveloped in his friend’s bear hug. If Charles realized he was interrupting anything of importance, he didn’t show it.

“Gabe! Great news! Allison has agreed to withdraw the complaint! Isn’t that wonderful!”

“Wonderful.” Gabriel could barely squeeze a reply out, Charles hugged him so fiercely. His friend released him a moment later, then turned to Jennifer, giving her a similar hug, which earned a scowl from Gabriel.

“Charles, that is incredible news! Are you certain?” Jennifer gasped.

“Yes, she is here with me now. She is speaking to the desk clerk. We should have this whole misfortune cleared up this morning. Miss Appleton, you must allow my apologies again for any discomfort afforded you or your
family. Allison is truly sorry, and will do everything she can to make it up to you. I’ll explain everything later. Gabriel, we may need your assistance if you’re available.”

“In a moment,” Gabriel said. Charles looked curiously at him and saw the box he clutched in his hand. For the first time, he seemed to realize that his friend was replying rather stiffly, and was not in good spirits at all. Embarrassed, Charles correctly guessed what was taking place, and sheepishly exited.

Gabriel turned back to Jennifer, and replaced the box in his coat. She rose, extending her hand, but he refused to take it. Disappointment and pain lanced through him, and his heart felt as if it had torn in two.

“Gabriel, even more so now, you are released from any obligation. I hope you understand—”

“I think I understand perfectly,” he said coldly. “The fact is, miss, your spiritual activities and notoriety are more important to you than I am. I guess the thought of a real home life, with children and family, isn’t enough for you. I understand that, even while I deplore it, and only wonder why you encouraged me. If it was to add another feather to your bonnet, I applaud you. You have mine. Good day, Miss Appleton. I’m sorry to have inconvenienced you with my clumsy proposal. May you be happy in the life you have chosen.”

“Gabriel!” Jennifer cried as he slammed the door behind him and was gone.

Jennifer composed herself as the guard waited patiently outside. Her heart felt as if it were breaking. Even though she knew she had done the right thing, that Gabriel really couldn’t accept her for herself and to wed him under such circumstances would be disaster, she didn’t feel good about the whole encounter. Why did everything have to be so hard? Why couldn’t she just fall
in love and marry, then live happily ever after like the girls in the fairy tales?

Because fairy-tale princesses aren’t tarot card readers, or séance mediums, she reminded herself. And real life didn’t have white knights to rescue damsels in distress. Jennifer sniffled back tears, trying to look normal as the guard opened the door.

“They’ll be wanting you out front, miss. Something about the charges being dropped. I can give you another minute if you need it.”

Jennifer wiped the wetness from her face and smiled gratefully at the man. She wondered how much he’d overheard. “That’s all right. I’ll be fine.” She straightened her dress, then followed him out into the main lobby, where chaos reigned.

The room was filled with people, all talking excitedly at once. Thankfully, she didn’t see Gabriel. Reporters waved notebooks, the desk clerk argued loudly, Charles was speaking with the chief of police, and Aunt Eve stood in the corner with Mary Forester, looking bewildered. Winifred and Penelope appeared ecstatic, and were busily filling out forms. When Jennifer entered the room, she was bombarded by the press.

“Miss Appleton, what do you think of the charges being dropped?”

“Was Miss Howe pressured by anyone?”